Silversea Cruises won the 2020 Seatrade Cruise Award for Sustainability, sponsored by Cruise Baltic. The award recognizes the company's commitment to placing social and environmental sustainability at the forefront of its business operations over the past 12 months. The award was presented on October 6, 2020, during the Seatrade Cruise Virtual event, based on the unanimous decision of an independent panel of 14 experts from the international cruise community.
The company was recognized for its pioneering Silversea Fund for Galapagos, a protocol that brings together a series of commitments by Silversea, aimed at enriching the communities and landscapes visited by its ships.
“The Seatrade Sustainability Award is an important recognition of our efforts to protect the natural environment and wildlife of the Galapagos Islands through education and building relationships with local communities. We are truly delighted to receive this award,” says Fernando Delgado, Vice President and General Manager of Silversea Cruises Ecuador.
“We are delighted to have been recognized by this distinguished panel of judges from Seatrade, thanks to our contributions to such an important region. This award confirms our commitment to the long-term conservation of the natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands, reflecting our approach across all destinations,” adds Barbara Muckermann, Marketing Director of Silversea.
Created in partnership with Galapagos Conservancy, the only US-based organization focused exclusively on protecting the unique ecosystems and biological integrity of the Galapagos Islands, the Silversea Galapagos Fund educates and supports local communities across the archipelago by funding projects related to youth development, education, science, technology, and conservation. The Fund welcomes proposals for existing or new projects on the four inhabited islands of the Galapagos: San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Isabela, and Floreana.
The Fund builds on Silversea's existing efforts to make a positive impact on the natural and economic environment of the Galápagos Islands, including its contribution to the Floreana Island Ecological Restoration Project. Guests traveling aboard the Silver Origin will be able to make a donation to the Silversea Fund for the Galápagos during their cruise.
The Silver Origin , the latest addition to the Silversea fleet, is scheduled to begin its voyages by the end of the year . This ship accommodates 100 guests, all in suites with balconies. It has been built with the unique environment of the Galápagos Islands in mind. The Silver Origin incorporates environmentally friendly features to comply with future regulations, in addition to those of the Galápagos National Park Directorate. The latest technological innovations mean reduced fuel consumption and minimized exhaust emissions; the ship's dynamic positioning system will be used when anchoring over delicate marine ecosystems to prevent damage; the suites incorporate freshwater purification systems that convert seawater into drinking water, drastically reducing the use of plastic on board; and a wastewater treatment system that meets or exceeds the strictest industry standards. In addition, all waste will be subjected to a strict segregation procedure on board and handed over to a local waste management company to be recycled or shipped off the islands.
